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Golden Stain - Research into Unconventional Alchemy XIX

Journal of Conrad Azohi - Day 1,001 after embarking

Up until now, I haven't known anything of the rulers of Takik. They separate themselves from the rabble of their city so completely that I haven't even known where they live. It seems they reside in palaces in the scrublands farther to the west. We discovered this because the merchants have grown weary of the conflict. It is understandable, of course. The merchants rely on the trade of this place to survive, and the trade relies on the menial labor supplied by the lower class citizens. It seems that many merchants are interested in granting greater rights to the lower class citizens, if it means work is resumed. However, they don't actually have the power to grant lasting rights, and have told us where to find the rulers of Takik, so that we might discuss matters with them.

However, the leaders of the local communities feel that, given the manner in which the rulers behaved before any action had even been taken, approaching them would be a death sentence. I think this is a fair assessment, but I would have likely given more consideration to the idea of treating with the rulers. Still, this is ultimately not my city, so I am glad that the community leaders are taking their own initiative.

The community leaders have decided that the best course of action is to deal with the merchants directly. They have asked that I create some form of implement which can be used to help identify locations. Since the color gold is very uncommon here, and metallic gold is associated with the trait of dignity, I have opted to formulate a type of golden wood stain. I suppose those who read this might find this alchemical recipe fairly simple, and they would be correct. It is something any alchemical engineer back home could devise. However, it marks a turning point in a distant nation's history. I think it is worthy of a place in some record of historical alchemy. It might as well be this one.

The idea is that we will create posts of gold-stained wood, which will then be passed out to any merchant who has spoken to and been accepted by the community leaders. The citizens will work for any merchant who has one of these golden posts, but not for those who do not. I will make several of these posts, but I am not to tell anyone of the method by which it is made. Therefore, counterfeit posts will be very difficult to create.